Dec 15, 2005 -- The Sept. 11 attacks gave rise to a new idealism in the Bush administration—one that does not universally support human rights, former UN Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke said at Stern College for Women Dec. 12. The Geraldine Schottenstein Cultural Center on Stern’s Beren Campus was filled to near capacity by people from the YU community and interested New Yorkers who came to hear Mr. Holbrooke speak on “Morality, Foreign Policy and the New Idealism.” Mr. Holbrooke said he felt strongly committed to Yeshiva University, recalling the honorary degree he was awarded in 2001 and The International Advocate for Peace Award in 2000 from YU’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. “The idea of promoting freedom to other nations is not new,” said Mr. Holbrooke. “In the past, it was associated with the Democratic Party. Previous Republican administration policy officials, including Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, were advocates of keeping one’s house in order. Those promoting the export of democracy were considered ‘woolly-headed idealists’ –– a philosophy known as realpolitik.” During the1970s and 80s, Republicans dealt with dictators but looked the other way when it came to human rights violations, he said. “It wasn’t until Sept. 11 that the Bush administration reversed past Republican policy and began to tout the promotion of morality and freedom.” But the Bush administration needs to establish guiding principles to develop foreign policy that is in accordance with fundamental human values, Mr. Holbrooke concluded. He delineated four hot spots that present opportunities as well as potential crises around the world: Israel, Iraq, Iran, and China. He stated emphatically that the recent realignment of political parties in Israel was historic--“the most significant event since Israel declared its independence 57 years ago.” This shift will have a wider impact on the US and the entire Middle East region. The elections in Iraq also will profoundly affect US policy, perhaps more than the Vietnam War if the results are negative, Mr. Holbrooke said. “We must pray that the election allows us to draw down troops and leads to the Iraqis being empowered to run their own country.” Iran, which is seeking to develop weapons of mass destruction, also presents a major threat to the region and beyond, he said. Mr. Holbrooke, former assistant secretary of state under the Clinton administration, noted that China and America will be the most dominant powers in the world for many decades to come. “China is one of the world’s three or four emerging economies and despite its burgeoning economy, it is still a poor nation.” The lecture was cosponsored by Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf Scholar-in-Residence Program and the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Center for International Affairs at Yeshiva University. Dr. Robbins-Wilf, a founding member of the Stern College board of directors, founded and funded the program that brings top scholars, authors, and opinion shapers to Stern College, offering students unique perspectives on the world.